Embracing POF: How a Travel Mishap Reminded Me the Power of Presence, Openness, and Flexibility

Traveling has a way of teaching us lessons, whether we plan for them or not. My recent trip to Pristina, Kosovo, was no exception. It was an adventure from start to finish, sprinkled with moments of chaos and unexpected generosity.

On the way there, my mom, aunt, and I stopped for a quick 15-minute coffee break. Well, it turned out to be not so quick. To our horror, the bus left without us! Chaos ensued, but, in a stroke of luck, some kind souls offered us a ride, and we managed to catch up with the bus. Relief and gratitude flooded in as we settled back into our seats, cheering, "YEAJJJ!"

The return trip had its own twist. In the rush to catch our bus on time, we ended up boarding the wrong one. In our defense, nearly all the buses had the same name—SHARR TRAVEL. If not for a discussion about seat assignments, we might have found ourselves on an impromptu journey to Istanbul instead of Tirana.

What stood out to me wasn’t just the mix-ups or the funny “blame it on the planets” moments—it was how differently we processed what happened. While I focused on navigating the situation with humor and flexibility, my mom and aunt spent half the way back immersed in “what ifs.”

“What if we’d ended up in Istanbul?”

“What if we’d missed the bus completely?”

“What if…”

These spiraling thoughts of worry and stress served as a stark contrast to another approach: being Present, Open, and Flexible (POF).

This simple mindset, which I often teach in my leadership training, applies to more than just travel mishaps. It’s about embracing life’s unpredictability with curiosity instead of panic, adaptability instead of fear.

In the end, the journey reminded me how easily stress can take over when we allow our minds to dwell on what could have gone wrong. But it also affirmed the power of staying grounded, present, and open to the possibilities of the moment.

Whether it’s missing a bus, catching the wrong one, or navigating life’s unexpected turns, the choice is ours: Do we spiral into “what ifs,” or do we choose to embrace the POF approach?

The next time life throws you a curveball, remember this trip. Sometimes the best stories—and the best lessons—come from the detours.